The Church of Saint Anthony of Padua is often shortened to Saint Antoine Church, and is the largest Roman Catholic Church in the city of Istanbul. The church was originally built for the thriving Italian community within the city, back in 1725, however the original building, constructed in red brick, was knocked down to make way for a public transportation system. In 1912, the church was rebuilt by Giuliu Mongeri, a renowned architect, and stands to this day as a stunning Neo-gothic and Tuscan-Lombard architectural design. In order to learn more about The Church of Saint Anthony of Padua, we really need to learn about the main himself. St Anthony of Padua was a Catholic priest of Portuguese descent, who dies in 1231. He was the most important disciple of St Francis of Assisi, and he was widely considered to be a miracle worker and an important patron saint. The church was built in his honour, and was visited by Pope John XXIII in 2003, who conducted a service during his visit. Today you can see a statue of Pope John XXIII in the patio of the church, to commemorate this important point in recent history.